University of Windsor - Fiat Chrysler Canada Automotive Research and Development Centre

Twenty years ago, a first-of-its kind partnership was forged between the automotive industry and academia. Dedicated to research development and education, the University of Windsor - Fiat Chrysler Canada Automotive Research and Development Centre (ARDC) opened in May 1996 with a $30 million (CDN) investment.

ARDC is a crown jewel within FCA Global Engineering and has a direct role in the product design and engineering of nearly every product in the company’s portfolio. The facility also nurtures a highly skilled labour pool of student engineers. More than 500 students have passed through the facility, exposed to a hands-on industrial experience in automotive innovation while working with industry experts.

As ARDC and FCA Canada have grown together, so has the link between education, research and manufacturing. With a total research and development spend in Canada now exceeding $1 billion, the ARDC benefits all partners. The facility is equipped with six road-test simulators, proprietary software development and a range of research and development support facilities.